The European Commission has asked its staff to uninstall the TikTok social media app from their corporate and personal devices over safety and security concerns. Starting March 15, EU staff members cannot use TikTok on devices that use the commission’s apps like Skype for Business or the commission’s internal email.
- According to a memo sent to the staff, the move aims to protect Commission data and systems from potential cybersecurity threats.
- TikTok is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance.
- In December, the U.S. Senate passed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, legislation banning TikTok on U.S. government devices.
- Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley authored the bill.
- On Dec. 30, the U.S. House of Representatives also banned TikTok on all House-managed devices.
- U.S. officials have expressed concerns that TikTok’s user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government due to that country’s influence over TikTok’s parent, ByteDance.
- Responding to the EU’s recent ban on the app for commission staff members, TikTok said it was disappointed with the decision, which it believed to be misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions.
